SO many people ask me how I can accomplish so much…
…and still have time to do yoga. With running a YouTube channel, multiple online yoga teacher trainings a year, business coaching, Instagram, my blog, and ALL THE THINGS, yoga definitely sometimes feels like another thing on my to-do list.
But the truth is that yoga is what helps me accomplish it all.
I also get really clear about my own goals. After all, if you’re not clear about what you’re working towards, then how can you ever accomplish it?
One way I like to get clear about all the things is by setting SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Frame – everything you need to make your goals a reality.
Here are the top 5 ways to ensure you are successful with your SMART goals:
1. Think about the motive behind the goal
Though only 8% of people achieve their goals, you can achieve yours by first defining why you’ve set this goal for yourself. Maybe you have an underlying health issue that obligates you to maintain your physical wellbeing as much as you can. Perhaps your motive is to get fit for the summer. Maybe you’ve noticed that your mental health is enhanced and improved when you improve your physical wellbeing.
Whatever your motive, cling to this and keep it at the forefront of your mind. Because although you might encounter tough times when trying to look after your physical wellbeing, regardless of what your goal is, your motive will help you stay focused, give you a sense of purpose and stay grounded.
2. Set realistic targets
There’s no point in setting unrealistic targets for yourself. There’s also no point in setting yourself one huge goal without breaking it down into achievable milestones. Doing these two things will set you up for failure. Pacing yourself is important when it comes to looking after your physical wellbeing or staying in shape.
But what’s also important is understanding that your goal might not end when you’ve achieved certain milestones or objectives. You might need to continue with the regime you have set yourself going into the future to both maintain all of your hard work and avoid undermining it.
3. Monitor your progress
What is the best way to ensure you’re on the right track as you work towards maintaining your physical wellbeing? You’ll need to monitor your progress. There are a few factors you’ll want to take into consideration to help you keep track of your physical wellbeing. The main ones are:
- Your alcohol consumption
- The amount of exercise you do per week
- Your glucose levels
- Your Body Mass Index
How can you monitor each of these factors in a simple, straightforward way? The self-tracking apps that are accessible on smartphones are one way to monitor your progress. From mood apps to specific fitness trackers for cycling or HIIT training, to sleep monitoring apps to pedometer apps, you can monitor all aspects of your physical wellbeing and fitness and come up with clever ways to maintain and pursue your targets.
4. Offer yourself the right rewards
Finally, if you want to add to your motivation, try to reward yourself when you achieve certain milestones. Part of this involves not focusing our energy on the errors we may have committed but applauding ourselves when we achieve certain milestones. Now, as certain rewards can be detrimental to our goals, remember that they shouldn’t stand in the way of our next milestones. Finding the right rewards to help you applaud your successes can push you further and propel you onwards to achieving our upcoming milestones.
5. Achieving physical wellbeing: the key points
Achieving your goal of maintaining your physical wellbeing requires determination, effort and persistence, though there’s no doubt it can be a challenge. The following are the key takeaways you should remember when trying to achieve your goals. Try to:
- Break your goal down into achievable milestones
- Monitor your achievements and keep track of your progress
- Keep your motive in mind when you face challenging times, and
- Stick to your exercise regime, which can help to enhance your physical and mental health
You don’t need to be told how important sticking to your exercise is, but be careful not to overexert yourself when exercising. Doing too much can be just as harmful as not doing anything at all.
